EP0423423B1 - Dispositif de refusion pour récupérer des métaux - Google Patents

Dispositif de refusion pour récupérer des métaux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0423423B1
EP0423423B1 EP90109773A EP90109773A EP0423423B1 EP 0423423 B1 EP0423423 B1 EP 0423423B1 EP 90109773 A EP90109773 A EP 90109773A EP 90109773 A EP90109773 A EP 90109773A EP 0423423 B1 EP0423423 B1 EP 0423423B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
inner housing
electron beam
housing
metals
crucible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90109773A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0423423A1 (fr
Inventor
Siegfried M.K. Bremer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT90109773T priority Critical patent/ATE94912T1/de
Publication of EP0423423A1 publication Critical patent/EP0423423A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0423423B1 publication Critical patent/EP0423423B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B11/00—Obtaining noble metals
    • C22B11/02—Obtaining noble metals by dry processes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
    • C22B9/16—Remelting metals
    • C22B9/22—Remelting metals with heating by wave energy or particle radiation
    • C22B9/228—Remelting metals with heating by wave energy or particle radiation by particle radiation, e.g. electron beams
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/20—Recycling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a furnace apparatus for the recognition and recovery of metals and, more particularly, to the remelting of materials in which certain metals, such as noble metals and rare earths are not recognized so as to allow the metals to be recognized and to be recovered.
  • the clusters may be in primary ores or in the product of smelting processes or other processes from which certain types of metals are typically recovered, such as the processing of copper ores, iron ores, and the like.
  • the unrecognizable metals, especially noble metals and rare earths, in the clusters may be freed from the clusters and may thus be either presented in the form of free atoms of the metals or may be alloyed with other metals. In both situations, the metals may be recognized and accordingly may be recovered through conventional recovery techniques.
  • US 3,388,903 A discloses a furnace for manufacturing ingots as ban of metals and specifically an electron beam furnace of conventional type.
  • the invention described and claimed herein comprises a furnace apparatus for recovering certain metals, such as noble metals and rare earths.
  • Base materials are melted and vaporized in an electron beam furnace and the metals freed from the base materials are collected either as free atoms on condenser plates or, in the case of some of the metals, the metals are alloyed with various metals in the base material.
  • the metals are freed from the clusters in which they are unrecognizable through the vaporization procedure.
  • Figure 6 is a block diagram of the method comprising the present invention.
  • Figure 1 is a view in partial section of apparatus of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a view in partial section taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged view in partial section taken generally from oval 4 of Fig. 1.
  • Figure 4 is a view in partial section of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 1.
  • Figure 5 is a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is a view in partial section of a plating apparatus from which material is taken into a furnace apparatus of Fig. 1 or 5.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram 10 illustrating the steps of treating materials before and after a treatment in a furnace apparatus.
  • the block diagram 10 includes a plurality of blocks indicating the various steps taken, and generally three different methods are indicated. All of the three methods include a first common step, namely a step 12, which comprises the gathering of the starting materials.
  • the three include raw ore, ore concentrates, or anode mud.
  • the ore may be crushed rock, or the like.
  • the ore concentrates may be the materials resulting from a smelting operation or the like.
  • the anode mud is a material resulting from a plating operation in which the mud is the material that falls to the bottom of a plating tank and is not transferred or plated onto the cathode in the plating process. This will be discussed in more detail below in conjunction with Fig. 5.
  • Two methods include common first steps for the ore or ore concentrates. This is indicated by a block 14. As is indicated in the block 14, ore or ore concentrates take a different path than does the anode mud starting material. In the case of any ore or ore concentrates, it is not uncommon to add different types of metals as collectors. Different types of metals added as collectors include silver, copper, tin, zinc, lead, gold, platinum, or other metals.
  • the second step, and a step common to any ore or ore concentrates starting materials includes the formation of ingots from the ores or ore concentrates. This is indicated in block 16 of the method 10 of Fig. 6.
  • the ingots which comprise the ore or ore concentrates, plus the added collector metals, may then take either of two paths, depending on various factors. These two paths comprise two of the three paths illustrated in Fig. 6.
  • the left path in Fig. 6 provides that the ingots from block 16 are remelted in an electron beam furnace.
  • This step is illustrated in block 18. That is, the ingots are sent directly to an electron beam furnace where they are melted.
  • block 20 indicates that ingots are again formed after the electron beam furnace remelting step.
  • the ingots recovered or formed in block 20 are then used as an anode in a plating solution. The plating step will be discussed in more detail in Fig. 5, below.
  • anode mud is collected from the bottom of the plating tank.
  • the anode mud as indicated above, comprises a material which is not plated onto a cathode in the plating operation.
  • the anode mud is removed from the plating tank and is then separated by well known techniques into the various metals contained in the anode mud. This is indicated in block 24 of Fig. 1.
  • the second method for the ore or ore concentrates utilizes the ingots from block 16 directly in a plating solution. This is illustrated in block 30 of Fig. 6.
  • the ingots from block 16 are placed directly in a plating tank and the ingots, as indicated above, are utilized as an anode in the plating solution.
  • the metals from the ingots which are not plated onto the cathode fall to the bottom of the tank as anode mud. This is indicated in block 32 of Fig. 6.
  • the anode mud 32 is collected from the plating tank in block 34 and is pressed into pellets.
  • the pellets 34 are then remelted in the electron beam furnace, as indicated in block 36 of Fig. 6.
  • the ingots which result from the remelting of the pellets in the electron beam furnace in step 36 are then separated by the standard separation techniques well known and understood in the art. This is indicated in block 38 of Fig. 6.
  • the noble metal separation steps of blocks 24 and 38 are, as indicated above, well known and understood steps. The metals at this stage or these stages can now be recognized because they are broken down or separated from the clusters contained in the original starting materials, which include the ore, the ore concentrates, or anode mud, as indicated in block 12 of Fig. 6.
  • the anode mud starting material from block 12 comprises the beginning material for the third separation technique, as indicated in block 50 of Fig. 6.
  • the anode mud from the block 50 is pressed into pellets, as indicated in block 52 of Fig. 6.
  • the pellets from block 52 are then remelted in the electron beam furnace, in accordance with block 54 of Fig. 6.
  • the remelted material from block 54 is then separated by the standard separation techniques discussed above, in accordance with the step of block 56 of Fig. 6.
  • the steps comprising blocks 50, 52, 54, and 56 are substantially identical to, or comparable to, the steps indicated in blocks 32, 34, 36, and 38 of Fig. 6, and which comprise the second method for the ore or ore concentrates starting materials after the starting materials are formed into ingots.
  • a dotted line 40 in Fig. 6 indicates the correlation between methods 2 and 3.
  • blocks 24, 38, and 56 of Fig. 6 all refer to "noble metals" to be separated.
  • the term “noble metals” is therein and herein used in the broad sense as applying to all metals, including noble metals and rare earths, that are not generally recognized in the clusters from which they are freed by the method and apparatus of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 is a view in partial section through an electron beam furnace 70 according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a view in partial section of a portion of the furnace apparatus 70 of Fig. 1, taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged view of another portion of the furnace apparatus 70 of Fig. 1 taken generally from oval 4 of Fig. 1.
  • reference will primarily be directed to Figs. 1, 2, 3.
  • the electron beam furnace 70 includes an outer housing 72 and an inner housing 82.
  • the outer housing 72 and the inner housing 82 are spaced apart from each other.
  • a plurality of cooling coils 90 are disposed against the inner housing 82 in the space between the outer housing 72 and the inner housing 82.
  • Within the inner housing 82 is an interior chamber 86.
  • Two electron beams guns 160 and 170 are used to vaporize or remelt the starting materials in the furnace 70.
  • the cooling coils go comprise a serpentine configuration of water conduits which help to cool the inner housing 82.
  • the cooling coils 90 are connected to a water source 92 by a pair of conduits 94 and 96. Cooling water is pumped through the conduit 94 to the cooling coils 90, and the water is recirculated or pumped out of the coils go through the conduit 96.
  • feed apparatus 100 For feeding raw material, such as a plurality of ingots 16, pellets 34, or pellets 52 (see Fig.6) into the interior 86 of the furnace apparatus 70, feed apparatus 100 is appropriately secured to the outer housing 72 and extends through the inner housing 82.
  • the feed apparatus 100 includes a hopper or container 102 which contains a plurality of stacked ingots 16, or pellets 34, or 52.
  • the pusher housing 104 includes a channel 106 which includes an opening 108 extending through the walls 72 and 82 and communicating with the interior 86 of the furnace 70. Disposed within the channel 106 is a pusher piston 110, and a rod 112 is connected to the piston 110.
  • the piston 110 is retracted by its piston rod 112 to allow the lowermost ingot 16, or a plurality of pellets, to drop down from the hopper 102 into the channel 106.
  • the piston 110 is then moved forwardly, or toward the right as shown in Fig. 1, to cause the ingot, or a plurality of pellets, to move into the interior of the furnace 86.
  • the push rod 110 is coordinated with the ability of an electron beam gun 160 to melt the ingot or pellets to cause the melted ingot or pellets to fall into a receptacle or crucible 120.
  • another electron beam gun 170 continues the remelting process for melting the ingot or the pellets to break the bonds or to free the various metals from their clustered condition so that they may be recognized and accordingly recovered by conventional methods.
  • the receptacle 120 extends downwardly and outwardly from the housings 72 and 82 so that the melted material may be removed from the furnace apparatus as desired.
  • a door 122 At the lower portion of the receptacle 120 is a door 122.
  • the door 122 is used, of course, for removing the melted or remelted material from the receptacle 120.
  • the furnace apparatus 70 may be considered as a continuous furnace apparatus.
  • the ability to constantly feed and to constantly remove allows the furnace to keep operating without the necessity for terminating the furnace operation in order to remove the melted or remelted material therefrom and to add new material to be melted or remelted into the furnace.
  • a vacuum pump 130 For evacuating the interior of the furnace or furnace chamber 86, a vacuum pump 130 is appropriately connected to the interior 86 through the housings or walls 72 and 82.
  • the vacuum pump 130 is connected to the interior 86 by a conduit 132. From the vacuum pump 130, a conduit 134 extends. The conduit 134 is vented to the atmosphere.
  • the recovery units Disposed along the conduit 134 are two recovery units for recovering metals from the interior of the furnace.
  • the recovery units include an osmium recovery unit 140 and a ruthenium recovery unit 142.
  • Osmium and ruthenium molecules are freed during the vaporization or melting process from the ingots or pellets. Thus freed from the clusters to which they are bonded, they are relatively volatile and accordingly are sucked out of the interior 86 by the vacuum pump 130.
  • the recovery of the osmium and ruthenium is accomplished by well known and understood recovery units on the discharge side of the vacuum pump 130.
  • the electron beam gun 160 is located or positioned adjacent to the opening 108 and is used to melt the lowermost ingot or pellets as it is (they are) pushed into the chamber 86 by the piston 110. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the beam from the electron gun 160 moves generally in a single axis direction. That is, it sweeps back and forth in a wide direction across the front of the opening 108 ingot 116 (or pellets) as the ingot is (or pellets are) pushed from the channel 106 into the interior 86 of the furnace apparatus 70. The material melted from the ingot 108 as it is pushed into the interior of the furnace by the electron beam 160 falls downwardly into the receptacle 120. In the receptacle or crucible 120, the melted ingot, or the pellets, if pellets are used instead of ingots, are subjected to further melting or remelting by the electron beam gun 170.
  • the electron beam gun 170 moves in two axes, both an X axis and a Y axis, to substantially cover the entire surface of the material disposed in a receptacle 120.
  • the control or sweep of the electron beams from the guns 160 and 170 is controlled by magnetic deflector yokes in well known and understood manners.
  • the X and Y movement of the electron beam from the electron beam 170 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • a power supply and control unit 180 is connected to the electron beam guns 160 and 170 by appropriate conductors 182 and 184, respectively.
  • the conductors 182 and 184 are in actuality a plurality of conductors, as required for controlling the guns 160 and 170, and their magnetic deflector coils, etc., all as well known and understood in the art.
  • FIG. 4 is a view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of the crucible 120 of Fig. 1.
  • the cooling coils 124 may simply be passages drilled or cast into the crucible 120 which serve as conduits for the cooling medium, such as water, which flows through the coils 90. Since the crucible 120 is fixed in place, the cooling coils 90 may be connected directly to the cooling coils or passages 124 in the receptacle or crucible 120. The crucible or receptacle 120 accordingly does not require a separate cooling system. Rather, the various cooling coils or passages are all connected as part of a single water coolant system for cooling the electron beam furnace apparatus 70.
  • Figure 5 is a view in partial section of an electron beam furnace 200.
  • the furnace 200 is not a continuous feed furnace, as is the furnace 70. Rather, the furnace 200 is an intermittent type furnace which preferably receives rocks or pellets 53 in a crucible. The crucible with rocks or pellets is inserted into the furnace, and the furnace is then turned on. After the melting of the rocks or pellets, the furnace is turned off and the crucible, with its melted material, is removed.
  • the furnace 200 includes an outer housing 202 and an inner housing 210.
  • the outer housing 202 and the inner housing 210 are spaced apart from each other.
  • Within the inner housing 210 is an interior chamber 214.
  • the inner housing 210 includes a floor 216, which comprises the floor of the chamber 214.
  • a crucible 240 is disposed on the floor 216 of the chamber 214.
  • the crucible 240 may be made of copper, or the like, and is preferably water cooled. (No cooling coils or the like are shown.)
  • Entry into the chamber 214 is by means of a door 218 which covers an opening 212 which extends through both the outer housing 202 and the inner housing 210.
  • a plurality of cooling coils 220 are appropriately secured to the outside of the inner housing 210.
  • the cooling coils 220 are substantially identical to the cooling coils 90 of the furnace apparatus 70, as discussed above.
  • the cooling coils 220 are connected to a pump or other water or coolant source 222 by a pair of conduits 224 and 226.
  • the water or coolant source (and pump) 222 provides for the circulation of a coolant medium through the coils 220 for the housing 210, (and for a cooling system for the crucible 240.)
  • a vacuum pump 230 is connected to the interior chamber 214 by a conduit 232.
  • the vacuum pump 230 is also connected to a discharge conduit 234 for venting the vacuum pump 230 to atmosphere.
  • Osmium and ruthenium recovery units are also appropriately connected to the vent conduit 234, as with the vacuum pump 130 and its vent conduit 134.
  • An electron beam gun 250 is centrally located at the top of the furnace 200.
  • the electron beam gun 250 is connected to appropriate power and control elements by means of a cable cluster 254.
  • the electron beam gun 250 is utilized to melt the rocks and/or pellets 53 disposed in the crucible 240.
  • the electron beam from the gun 250 moves in two planes to substantially cover the entire area of the crucible 240 for melting the material 53 in the crucible 240.
  • the control of the electron beam is accomplished in the above referred-to well known and understood method of magnetic control yokes.
  • the intensity of all of the electron beam guns utilized in the apparatus of the present invention are controlled, as desired, by the appropriate power and control elements 180 and 252, as schematically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a view in partial section of plating apparatus 300 usable with the plating steps discussed above in conjunction with Fig. 6.
  • the plating apparatus 300 includes a container or vat 302. At the bottom of the container or vat 302, and disposed beneath the anode, which is an ingot 16, is a sump 304.
  • the container or vat 302 includes an electrolyte solution 310.
  • a cathode 320 extends into the electrolyte 310 in the vat 302.
  • the cathode 320 may be a stainless steel plate, a copper plate, nickel plate, or other appropriate metal plate, or the like.
  • a power supply 330 is connected to the ingot anode 16 and to the cathode 320 by a pair of conductors 332 and 334, respectively.
  • material from the anode or ingot 16 is transferred to the electrolyte and is plated onto the cathode 320.
  • Material which is not transferred or plated onto the cathode 320 falls into the sump 304.
  • This material, or anode mud 32 is then removed from sump 304 of the vat 302 and is pressed into pellets, as discussed above in conjunction with Fig. 6, and is then melted in an electron beam furnace, such as the furnace 70 of Fig. 2 or the furnace 200 of Fig. 5.
  • the furnaces 70 and 200 each have osmium and ruthenium recovery units in the exhaust portions of the vacuum pump systems.
  • those particular metals, and others may be vaporized by the electron beam guns and will, as discussed, generally be carried out of the furnace structures in their vaporized states or in relatively small condensed particle structures and into and through the vacuum pump structures.
  • other metals may also be vaporized and transported out of the furnace structures and will be recovered in the vacuum pump exhaust.
  • the term “melt” and/or “remelt” as used herein includes “vaporize” in its meaning.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Four de récupération de métaux, comprenant des moyens de confinement, composés d'un carter intérieur et d'un carter extérieur espacé du carter intérieur, des moyens formant creuset, disposés à l'intérieur des moyens de confinement, pour recevoir une quantité déterminée d'un matériau contenant un ou plusieurs métaux, des moyens formant canon à faisceau d'électrons étant fixés aux moyens de confinement, afin de porter en fusion et vaporiser le matériau situé dans le moyen formant creuset, ainsi que des moyens de refroidissement du carter intérieur, en vue de condenser ces métaux vaporisés par le canon à faisceau d'électrons.
  2. Dispositif selon la Revendication 1.-, dans lequel les moyens de confinement comprennent en outre un moyen de mise sous vide, destiné à mettre sous vide le carter intérieur pour la fusion et la vaporisation du matériau par les moyens formant canon à faisceau d'électrons.
  3. Dispositif selon la Revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les moyens de confinement comprennent en outre des moyens pour assurer de façon pratiquement continue l'alimentation du matériau dans le carter intérieur, en vue de le porter en fusion et de le vaporiser.
  4. Dispositif selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel les moyens destinés à l'alimentation pratiquement continue du matériau dans le carter intérieur, comprennent des moyens formant trémie destinés à contenir le matériau, des moyens formant canal, communiquant avec les moyens formant trémie et le carter intérieur, en vue de recevoir du matériau venant des moyens de trémie, et par l'intermédiaire desquels le matériau est déplacé dans le carter intérieur, et des moyens pour déplacer le matériau dans les moyens formant canal et dans le carter intérieur.
  5. Appareil selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 4.- dans lequel les moyens formant canon à faisceau d'électrons comprennent un premier canon à faisceau d'électrons pour porter en fusion le matériau à amener en continu, en vue de le faire tomber dans les moyens formant creuset, et un second canon à faisceau d'électrons, en vue de faire fondre le matériau situé dans le moyen de creuset.
  6. Dispositif selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel les moyens formant creuset comprennent un réceptacle, dont une partie s'étend à l'extérieur du carter intérieur et des moyens formant porte, sur la partie s'étendant à l'extérieur, par l'intermédiaire desquels le matériau est évacué après fusion par les moyens formant canon à faisceau d'électrons.
  7. Dispositif selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 6.- dans lequel les moyens de confinement comprennent des moyens formant porte, les moyens formant creuset,contenant le matériau, étant déplaçables dans le carter intérieur, destiné à y assurer la fusion et l'évaporation du matériau, à travers les moyens formant porte et les moyens formant creuset étant déplaçables pour sortir du carter intérieur, à travers les moyens formant porte, après que le matériau y étant contenu ait été fondu et vaporisé.
  8. Dispositif selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel les moyens de refroidissement du carter intérieur sont équipés de serpentins de refroidissement, disposés contre le carter intérieur, dans l'espace situé entre le carter extérieur et le carter intérieur.
  9. Dispositif selon l'une des Revendications 1 à 8.- dans lequel les parois intérieures du carter intérieur comprennent un condenseur, composé de plaques de condensation.
EP90109773A 1989-09-05 1990-05-23 Dispositif de refusion pour récupérer des métaux Expired - Lifetime EP0423423B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT90109773T ATE94912T1 (de) 1989-09-05 1990-05-23 Vorrichtung zum umschmelzen zur gewinnung von metallen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US402475 1982-07-28
US07/402,475 US5142549A (en) 1989-09-05 1989-09-05 Remelting apparatus and method for recognition and recovery of noble metals and rare earths

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0423423A1 EP0423423A1 (fr) 1991-04-24
EP0423423B1 true EP0423423B1 (fr) 1993-09-22

Family

ID=23592049

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90109773A Expired - Lifetime EP0423423B1 (fr) 1989-09-05 1990-05-23 Dispositif de refusion pour récupérer des métaux

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5142549A (fr)
EP (1) EP0423423B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE94912T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2022398A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69003502T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2045643T3 (fr)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5263044A (en) * 1989-09-05 1993-11-16 Bremer Siegfried M K Remelting method for recognition and recovery of noble metals and rare metals
US5373529A (en) * 1992-02-27 1994-12-13 Sandia Corporation Metals purification by improved vacuum arc remelting
US6034985A (en) * 1998-11-02 2000-03-07 Bremer Siegfried M. K. Remelting method for recognition and recovery of noble metals and rare earths
US8891583B2 (en) 2000-11-15 2014-11-18 Ati Properties, Inc. Refining and casting apparatus and method
US6496529B1 (en) 2000-11-15 2002-12-17 Ati Properties, Inc. Refining and casting apparatus and method
US7578960B2 (en) 2005-09-22 2009-08-25 Ati Properties, Inc. Apparatus and method for clean, rapidly solidified alloys
US7803212B2 (en) * 2005-09-22 2010-09-28 Ati Properties, Inc. Apparatus and method for clean, rapidly solidified alloys
US7803211B2 (en) * 2005-09-22 2010-09-28 Ati Properties, Inc. Method and apparatus for producing large diameter superalloy ingots
US8748773B2 (en) * 2007-03-30 2014-06-10 Ati Properties, Inc. Ion plasma electron emitters for a melting furnace
EP2137329B1 (fr) 2007-03-30 2016-09-28 ATI Properties LLC Four de fusion comprenant un émetteur d'électrons de plasma ionique à décharge à fil
US7798199B2 (en) * 2007-12-04 2010-09-21 Ati Properties, Inc. Casting apparatus and method
US8747956B2 (en) 2011-08-11 2014-06-10 Ati Properties, Inc. Processes, systems, and apparatus for forming products from atomized metals and alloys
CN104520453A (zh) * 2011-11-10 2015-04-15 先进磁工艺股份有限公司 用于分离的磁电-等离子体分离器及方法
CN106893863B (zh) * 2017-03-23 2018-10-26 长沙矿冶研究院有限责任公司 一种从废旧手机中回收有价金属的方法

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US994889A (en) * 1910-07-15 1911-06-13 Charles Thierry Method of and apparatus for condensing zinc vapor to liquid metal.
US1590521A (en) * 1922-04-22 1926-06-29 Juretzka Franz Condensing apparatus in connection with an electric furnace for the production of volatile metals
DE1110877B (de) * 1959-04-24 1961-07-13 Heraeus Gmbh W C Verfahren zum Erschmelzen von Metallbloecken mittels Elektronenstrahlen
US3267529A (en) * 1961-10-04 1966-08-23 Heraeus Gmbh W C Apparatus for melting metals under high vacuum
US3264095A (en) * 1962-10-29 1966-08-02 Magnetic Metals Company Method and apparatus for melting of metals to obtain utmost purity
FR84908E (fr) * 1963-04-04 1965-05-07 Commissaria A L En Atomique Perfectionnements apportés aux procédés de coulée, notamment de lingots, et en particulier de carbure d'uranium
DE1291760B (de) * 1963-11-08 1969-04-03 Suedwestfalen Ag Stahlwerke Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum diskontinuierlichen und kontinuierlichen Vakuum-Schmelzen und -Giessen von Staehlen und stahlaehnlichen Legierungen (Superiegierungen)
US4045006A (en) * 1975-07-31 1977-08-30 Cherednichenko Vladimir Semeno Apparatus for continuous vacuum-refining of metals
US4190404A (en) * 1977-12-14 1980-02-26 United Technologies Corporation Method and apparatus for removing inclusion contaminants from metals and alloys
ZA795623B (en) * 1978-11-24 1980-09-24 Metallurgical Processes Ltd Condensation of metal vapour
ZA82479B (en) * 1981-02-05 1983-04-27 Johnson Matthey Plc Recovery of precious metals
US4730336A (en) * 1986-06-16 1988-03-08 G & H Oxy-Fuel, Inc. Oxy-fuel burner system
US4814003A (en) * 1988-01-29 1989-03-21 Bergner Richard M Apparatus and method for extraction and recovery of precious metal using coherent radiation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0423423A1 (fr) 1991-04-24
CA2022398A1 (fr) 1991-03-06
DE69003502D1 (de) 1993-10-28
ES2045643T3 (es) 1994-01-16
DE69003502T2 (de) 1994-03-10
ATE94912T1 (de) 1993-10-15
US5142549A (en) 1992-08-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0423423B1 (fr) Dispositif de refusion pour récupérer des métaux
US3764297A (en) Method and apparatus for purifying metal
US5263044A (en) Remelting method for recognition and recovery of noble metals and rare metals
US5972282A (en) Straight hearth furnace for titanium refining
US7704478B2 (en) Method and apparatus for refining silicon using an electron beam
AU635434B2 (en) A method for operating electron beam furnace and intermediate pressure electron beam furnace
US5222547A (en) Intermediate pressure electron beam furnace
US6858059B2 (en) Electron beam melting method for metallic material
US2951021A (en) Electrolytic production of titanium
US3288593A (en) Purification of metals
CA1247865A (fr) Traitement du laitier d'un convertisseur de cuivre
JPH0778263B2 (ja) 中圧電子ビーム炉
US3364296A (en) Electron beam furnace
EP0900854A1 (fr) Collecteur du condensé pour four d'affinage à creuset froid
US3307936A (en) Purification of metals
CA2643450C (fr) Recuperation de metaux precieux par fusion a induction optimale
US6034985A (en) Remelting method for recognition and recovery of noble metals and rare earths
US5320666A (en) Low pressure contaminant extraction
JP3526983B2 (ja) ニッケル・水素吸蔵合金二次電池からの有効成分の回収方法
RU2096503C1 (ru) Аппарат для переработки кусковых отходов твердых сплавов цинковым способом
AU683452B2 (en) Method of recovering zinc
JPH0741879A (ja) アルミ合金の精錬装置及び精錬方法
Olper et al. Process for recovering zinc and lead from flue dusts from electrical steel works and for recycling said purified metals to the furnace, and installation for implementing said process
US3839015A (en) Process for separating and collecting metals from ore
WO2002042502A2 (fr) Procede et equipement de manipulation de scories et de recuperation des metaux non ferreux qu'elles contiennent

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19910302

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920407

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 94912

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19931015

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69003502

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19931028

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2045643

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: FG4A

Free format text: 3010012

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 90109773.3

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19980505

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19980518

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19980522

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19980522

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19980522

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19980522

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19980525

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 19980526

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19980527

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19980528

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Payment date: 19980529

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990523

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990523

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990523

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990524

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990524

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990531

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990531

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990531

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990531

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: BREMER SIEGFRIED M.K.

Effective date: 19990531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990523

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 90109773.3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000131

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 19991201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000301

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20010503

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050523